Manhattan, Kansas – Ranchers continue to recover from wildfires that began March 6 and swept through an estimated 1.5 million acres in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado.
The outpouring of those wanting to help has been tremendous and Kansas Farm Bureau continues to work connecting those who need help with those who can provide it.
“Phone calls and emails continue to roll in from across the nation,” Nancy Brown, fire relief coordinator for Kansas Farm Bureau, says. “As we saw from last year’s Anderson Creek Fire, the farming community never fails when it comes to rallying around their friends in need.”
Clark County Farm Bureau is donating $20,000 to ranchers impacted in the county.
“There’s a lot of hurting families,” Bruce McKissick, Clark County Farm Bureau board president, says.
“We decided to give money to those who need help.”
McKissick says they will also provide money to area fire departments who helped battle the fires and will buy fence supplies.
“We’re not done,” McKissick says.
Those who were impacted by the fires are encouraged to share what they need help with via the web page www.kfb.org/firerelief.
“We have many people wanting to help however they can,” Brown says. “We know it’s not easy to ask for help, but I can’t reiterate how important it is to know what’s needed. We have many offers of labor and time.”
For those wanting to donate money, Kansas Farm Bureau encourages people to contact the Kansas Livestock Association at 785-273-5115. Checks can be mailed to the Kansas Livestock Foundation at 6031 SW 37th St., Topeka, KS 66614. “Fire relief fund” should be written in the memo line.
KFB, Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas Department of Agriculture, local extension, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, USDA and FSA will host a meeting for those impacted by the wildfires around Clark County March 22 at Ashland High School gymnasium, 11 N J E Humphreys St. in Ashland at 2 p.m. Ranchers impacted by the fires should contact their local USDA service center for information on federal programs and services.
